Episode 1 Meet the Pups

Hello, and welcome to Meet The Pups,

a show where we're going to spend some time with puppies

from the day they are born.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes.

Big dogs,

little dogs,

funny dogs...

..speedy dogs,

lazy dogs,

yappy dogs

and slobbery dogs.

But our pups are going to be special. Let's meet Mum and Dad.

Their names are Lola and Morgan, and they are Springer spaniels.

Springer spaniels have amazing eyesight

and a great sense of smell, and they're good friends to have around.

This is Lola.

She's about to become a mum for the first time, so she's a bit excited.

And this is Morgan, and he's going to be a dad for the first time.

He's very loud and lively.

When he's not admiring his good looks in a puddle,

his favourite things are his tennis balls.

And digging...and digging... and digging.

If making holes was an Olympic sport,

Morgan would be a gold medal winner.

How many puppies do you think you'll have, Lola?

'Oh, well, you know.

'I think I can feel about three or four little ones inside me.'

'I hope it's four! I bet it's four.

'The best things come in fours.

'Dogs have four legs, and I've got four tennis balls.'

This is Lola and Morgan's home

where we're going to be living with them and watch the pups grow.

It's going to be an adventure and lots of fun.

We're all excited because tonight, in this very box,

Lola is going to give birth.

But first, Lola has to prepare the box for her puppies.

She's smoothing out towels

and tearing up bits of newspaper to make a nice nest for her pups.

By panting harder and starting to push, Lola gets ready to give birth.

But no-one knows how long it will take.

At last, after one, two, three, four, five,

six hours and a lot of panting and pushing, the first puppy arrives!

'It's a girl! It's a beautiful girl!'

'Actually, Morgan, it's a boy.'

'Oh, what are we going to call him?'

'Well, he looks like a Bonzo to me...'

'Yes. Bonzo. Hello, Bonzo!'

It takes another long time before the second pup follows.

-This time, it

-is

-a girl.

'Oh, I want to name her. Let's call her Betsy.'

When puppies are born, they can't see, they can't hear,

they can't walk and they have no teeth.

So Lola has to look after them very carefully.

Wherever Lola goes, she carries the puppies with her.

It might look like it hurts, but Lola's mouth holds them very gently.

By having the puppies close,

Lola gives them the loving care they need,

keeping them safe and warm.

But guess what? Here's another pup popping out.

It's another girl.

'Hmm, what shall we call her?'

'Oh, how about something sweet, like Biscuit?'

'Biscuit? Did she say Biscuit?'

'Yes, Morgan. But not the kind you can eat.'

By licking the pup's nose and mouth,

Lola is making sure the puppy can breathe.

Hey, Lola. Wasn't Morgan hoping for four pups?

'Oh. Yes. Number four.

'Yes, I can still feel something inside, but, ooh...

'This doesn't feel right at all.'

'What's happening? Where are Lola and the pups going?

'Where are they taking them?'

Don't worry, Morgan.

We're off to see the vet to make sure everything is all right.

Lola's owners want to know if she still has another pup inside.

If she does and it's stuck, it could make her very sick.

The vet's having a good luck at Lola's tummy.

The next day, there's some surprising news

about pup number four.

Morgan is still waiting to hear what happened.

'Morgan, I think you better sit down.'

'Is it bad news?'

'Well...

'Oh, it's a bit embarrassing to say this,

'but pup number four turned out to be a number two.'

'Oh. It wasn't a pup. She just needed a really big poo. Ha-ha-ha!'

After all the excitement, Lola and Morgan are very tired.

And the pups?

Well, they just slept through it all. Aren't they lovely?

Owning and looking after any pet is a big responsibility.

If you want an idea

of exactly what's involved with keeping puppies,

go to bbc.co.uk/cbeebies and click on Meet The Pups.